Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
"Sanji, your presence is requested by the Gods themselves!" came the booming call.
Sanji boasts a lean, strong build with notably long legs, and sports blond hair that elegantly sweeps to one side of his face, partially concealing it. One of his most unique features is his eyebrows; each twists into a precise spiral, yet intriguingly, they coil at opposite ends.
Sanji, in the midst of schooling Fullbody about the sacrilege of squandering food, couldn't mask his irritation. "Patty, you oaf! I'm a sous chef, not a waiter..." His grumble trailed off as he flung Fullbody aside and swiveled around. His tirade broke off mid-sentence — because there, he saw Nami.
"Wow!!" In a heartbeat, Sanji, stars in his eyes, zipped over like a gust of wind, his gaze fixated solely on Nami. He writhed ecstatically, gushing, "My fair lady, what an honor it would be to take your order and whip up a feast just for you! May I suggest some specialties?"
It was only after this fervent outpouring that Sanji acknowledged the rest of the group. "Serving a party of six will be quite the endeavor,",
Six? The word jolted them. It dawned on them that Bai Ye had slipped away unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Fullbody had retreated from the Baratie, licking his wounds aboard his warship. "Blasted place, who needs a restaurant that beats its patrons!" he fumed. Yet, his rant was cut short by a frantic soldier bursting in, "Captain Fullbody, we're in trouble!! The prisoner, the one linked to the Krieg Pirates — he's fled!"
This snag yanked Fullbody's mind off the restaurant ordeal. "Impossible! We catched him half-dead, starved him for days. How'd he muster the strength to run?" he bellowed.
The soldier, crestfallen, could only mumble an apology.
Then, out of the blue, a voice chimed in, "Seems like you're in a bit of a pickle~." There stood Bai Ye, who, unbeknownst to them, had tailed Fullbody since leaving the restaurant.
"Who goes there? How'd you tail me without notice?" Fullbody paled, realizing anyone who could shadow him undetected was no ordinary foe.
"Calm down, Captain. I'm here to chat, not fight," Bai Ye soothed, though his tone dripped with sarcasm. "Double Ironfist, eh? I wonder what the navy's superior was thinking with that one."
"This..."
"Never mind that," Bai Ye waved off, keen to shift gears. "Let's discuss the Krieg Pirates. I propose a collaboration. What do you say?"
Bai Ye's sly grin didn't escape Fullbody. Why did this stranger give off such a cunning vibe?
Fast forward...
"As we've settled, Captain Fullbody, I eagerly anticipate your arrival," Bai Ye called out, bidding adieu to Fullbody on the warship anchored near Baratie. He then sauntered back into the restaurant, timing his return perfectly with the serving of the food.
Upon reaching his companions, Bai Ye sensed something was amiss. His friends seemed overly entertained, while Sanji glared at him, fuming.
"Huh?" A puzzled Bai Ye tried to piece together the scenario, but before he could probe, Sanji's voice sliced through the tension.
"Are you Bai Ye? I challenge you, in the name of culinary honor!" Sanji appeared as if he harbored some profound grudge against Bai Ye.
"Wait, what?" Even more bewildered, Bai Ye sought clarity from his mates. "Can anyone fill me in on what's going on here?"
—
Moments later, through Usopp's jest-filled recap, Bai Ye got the gist of the events. Apparently, after Sanji had fluttered around Nami, taking her order, a cash-strapped pirate wandered in. Patty had shooed him away for lack of money, but Sanji, unseen by most, had slipped him some food — an act witnessed by Luffy, who thereafter pestered Sanji nonstop to join their crew.
Sanji's repeated refusals would have seen him ducking back into the kitchen if not for Nami's presence. Then, possibly with a hint of mischief, Nami had commented, "Actually, having Bai Ye would be great. His cooking is clearly superior."
That single remark had etched Bai Ye's name in Sanji's mind. Discovering Bai Ye was part of the crew, he couldn't resist a challenge. Sanji's principle was clear: no one dared to doubt his culinary prowess. And the fact that Nami — sweet, beautiful Nami — thought highly of this Bai Ye character... Oh, the jealousy that brewed!
Post-Usopp's tale, Bai Ye turned to Nami, catching her eye and a subtle smile. He reached out, patting her head affectionately, "You've landed me in quite the soup, haven't you?"
Nami shrugged, "Hey, I only spoke the truth, nothing wrong with that." Since their heart-to-heart talk, their bond had tightened, easing into casual touches like this one.
"JERK!!" Sanji's eyes were practically aflame at the sight. "How dare you lay hands on Ms. Nami!!"
"Chill, Mr. Nosebleed," Zoro chimed in, unable to resist a jab at his curly-browed counterpart.
"What's that, Mosshead?!" Sanji, already bewitched by Nami's charm, spun around to face Zoro.
"You heard me, Shitty Cook!"
"Moron!! Dumb Swordsman!"
Their banter escalated quickly, fists nearly flying. The onlookers, meanwhile, spurred them on, finding the entire squabble quite the spectacle.
Johnny and Yosaku: "Go, brother Zoro!"
Usopp: "Yeah, Zoro! Take down that creepy cook!"
Luffy: "Cool, a fight? Count me in!!"
"Enough! Both of you, cut it out!!" Nami's stern shout eventually reined them in.
Bai Ye, giving Sanji a nonchalant shrug, responded, "I don't see any reason to take up your challenge."
"What? You're turning down a culinary duel?" Sanji was baffled, having assumed Bai Ye was the Straw Hats' chef.
"Apologies, but I'm no chef. And even if I were, isn't it normal for Nami, my crewmate, to compliment me?" Bai Ye continued, "Once we're gone, this will all be forgotten. You remain the top chef here, right?"
"So, I have zero reasons to accept. I'm sorry, Sanji." While Bai Ye's apology seemed sincere, a glint of mischief danced in his eyes. He was playing a game, one called 'Baiting and Teasing.'
Predictably, after mulling over Bai Ye's words, a determined Sanji inquired, "Then, under what conditions would you accept my challenge?"
At this, a subtle smirk tugged at Bai Ye's lips. He replied leisurely, "Well, there should be a wager on the table, at the very least."